Transporting threads in a loom for weaving



S P 10, 1957 E. PFARRWALLER 2,805,687

TRANSPORTING THREADS IN A LOOM FOR WEAVING Fig.1

IN V EN TOR. EEW/N PF'A/P/PWALLEE.

A r TO/FEK Sept. 10, 1957 E. PFARRWALLER 2,

TRANSPORTING THREADS IN A LOOM FOR WEAVING Filed Nov. 19, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

a4- 23 s1 s2 s4 Fig.5

INVENTOR. flew/N PFARFPWALLE/F! Sept. 10, 1957 E. PFARRWALLER 2,805,687

TRANSPORTING THREADS IN A LOOM FOR WEAVING Filed Nov. 19. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FigJO IN VEN TOR. E/PW/N PFA m? WALLEE A TTUAIVEV.

Patented Sept. 10, 1957 Free TRANSPORTING THREADd IN A LOCIM FUR WEAVWG Erwin Pfarrwaiier, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to Sulzer Frer-es, Societe Anenynae, Winterthur, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application November 19, N54, Serial No. 4743;!)73

Claims priority, application Switzerland November 21, 1953 9 Claims. (Cl. 139 125) The present invention relates to a device for transporting a thread by elements provided with thread clamps which are opened and closed at two spaced operating stations by means of control elements, the clamps cooperating at one operating station with an element taking over the thread, which element subsequently passes the other operating station.

It is conventional in looms for weaving that the weft thread presenting and returning element pass two operating stations, a fork-like control element being provided having a prong on each operating station for opening and closing the thread clamp by means of a thorn at the endof the prongs, for example, as shown in Patent No. 2,578,205.

Since the ends of both prongs are at the same time in operating or in rest position, one end of each prong must be provided with a recess or cut-out permitting passage of the shuttle which is served by the weft thread presenting element. The ends of both prongs have the same diameter because the thread clamp of a weft presenting element reciprocates between the two operating stations and alternately stops at one and at the other station. The height of the weft thread clamp must be suflicient to suit the diameter of the operating end of the clamp control element, i. e. of the prongs thereof. This has the disadvantage that the thread clamp requires much space and that the clamp jaws must be relatively long. Because of the latter, the jaw stems must have a relatively large cross section. The rather long clamp jaws are not very stable and reliable with respect to seizing and holding the thread.

If several conventional thread presenting elements are accommodated in a thread changing element, for example, as shown in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 376,780, filed August 27, 1953, there is the additional disadvantage that only a few thread presenting elements can be accommodated in the thread changing element whose dimensions are limited.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for transporting threads which avoids the aforedescribed disadvantages. The mechanism according to the invention provides a separate thread control ele ment on each of the two operating stations, both control elements being actuated by a driving mechanism, whereby the two control elements are at least temporarily actuated in a different manner and whereby the control element at'one operating station is pulled back at least during the time when the thread receiving element, for example a shuttle, passes the control element.

The mechanism according to the invention avoids the provision of an opening in the control element for passage of the thread receiving element, so that the thread clamps can be made small and their stability with respect to seizing the thread is improved.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself however and additional objects and advantages thereof Will best be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a perspective diagrammatic illustration of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a part cross sectional view of the driving mechanism for the weft clamp openers in the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the movements of the individual parts of the mechanism according to the invention;

Figs. 4 to 9 are diagrams illustrating the positions of the thread actuating elements during various operating phases of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a modified mechanism for operating thread clamp actuating elements according to the invention;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another modification of a driving mechanism for thread control elements according to the invention;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic perspective illustration of a further modification of a thread control mechanism according to the invention.

The same numerals designate the same parts in all figures.

The weft threads in looms for weaving having gripper shuttles are primarily transporated by weft thread presenting and returning elements and by the gripper shuttles. The weft thread presenting elements transfer the free end of a weft thread, which unwinds from a package mounted on the frame of the loom, to a gripper shuttle which has been placed in the picking position, for example by means of a shuttle lifter.

The purpose of the thread presenting element is to transfer a weft thread to a shuttle at one operating station and to grip the thread again at the second operating station, the thread having been released while it was inserted into the shed by means of the shuttle. Gripping of the thread at the second operating station is elfected after insertion of the Weft thread into the shed and as soon as thread clamps located adjacent the edge of the fabric have seized and are holding the portion of the weft thread which is inserted in the shed. The second operating station is so far spaced from the edge of the shed, or rather from a thread clamp placed adjacent the edge, that at least a mechanism for cutting the thread which is inserted in the shed can be accommodated. All aforementioned clamps and mechanisms as well as the other moving parts of the loom are driven by a main shaft in the conventional manner, suitable transmissions being provided for the individual mechanisms. The main shaft is provided with a brake and rotated via a clutch by means of the loom drive, for example an electric motor, at a speed which corresponds to the desired number of picks per minute. All this is conventional and is not illustrated.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, numeral 11 designates a thread presenting ele ment provided with a thread clamp 12, the purpose of the element 11 being to transfer a weft thread 13 to a clamp 16 of a gripper shuttle 14. The element 11 is located within a casing 15 of the picking mechanism of the loom and is at the elevation of the picking path. The weft thread 13 is transferred to the clamp 16 of the shuttle 14 at the operating station I, the clamp 12 and the clamp 16 being actuated in conventional manner. The weft thread 13 inserted into a shed 17 by means of the shuttle 14 is again seized by the clamp 12 of the thread presenting element 11 at the operating station II near the shed 17.

The Weft thread 13 is subsequently out between the clamp 12 and the shed l7 and the free end of the thread is returned by the element 11 to the operating station I for transfer to another shuttle. For reciprocating the element 11, a lever 18 is provided which is mounted on a vertical shaft19, the latter being rotatably supported by the casing 15 for oscillating the lever 18, as shown by the arrow 21. The shaft 19 is actuated by the main shaft .of the loom, for example by meansof cams in the conventional manner. recess 22 in the element 11.

Control elements 23 and 24 are provided for opening and closing the thread clamp 12 on the weft thread presenting element 11 at the operating stations I and II. The control elements 23 and 24 move at a right angle to the path of the shuttle.14 in grooves 25, 26, respectively, which are provided in the casing 15. The elements 23 and 24 are provided with clamp openers 27 and 2S, respectively, adapted to be inserted into the clamp12. The openers have a rounded cross sectional Configuration, have cone-shaped ends, and are provided with a longitudinal slot 29. The width of the slot is sufficient to afford unhindered passage of the weft thread 13 and is substantially smaller than the height of the shuttle 14, Fig. 2. Because of the small width of the slot 29, the height of the openers 27 and 28 and consequently the height of the clamp 12 and of the element 11 can be small.

The drive mechanism, which preferably actuates the elements 23 and 24 in dependence on the angular position of the main shaft of the loom and according to the periodic movements and functions of the element 11 and of the shuttle 14, comprises the following parts: a twoarm lever 31 swinging on a fulcrum pin 32 mounted on the casing 15 and being actuated by means of a lever 33 with which the lever 31 is connected by means of a link 34 and a pivot 32. The link 34 is reciprocated as indicated by the arrows 35. As seen in Fig. 2, the lower arm of the lever 33 is provided with a roller 37 which follows a cam 36. The latter is mounted on a shaft 38 which is driven by the main shaft of the loom, by means not shown, at a speed corresponding to the desired number of picks. Each end of the two-arm lever 31 is provided with teeth 39 which mesh with corresponding grooves 41 in the control elements 23 and 24. A thread changing element 44 is mounted on a shaft 45 and carries a thread presenting element 42 in addition tothe thread presenting element 11. The elements 11 and 42 are reciprocated in grooves 43 and 43, respectively. A thread clamp, not

. shown, mounted on the element 42 holds a weft thread 46 in the same manner as the clamp 12 of the element 11 holds the weft thread 13.

The operation of the. device is as follows:

in the diagram Fig. 3, the line A represents the movement of the control element 23 and the dotted line 13 represents the movement of the control element 24.

As seen in 4, the element 11 is at the operating station I, the opener 27 of the element 23 having been received in a corresponding cut-out in the clamp 12. Fig. 3 illustrates the periodically repeated movements between two beatups and during one revolution of the main shaft of the loom, the abscissae of the diagram Fig. 3 indicating the angular positions of the main shaft of the loom between 0 and 360. Position 0 in the diagram Fig. 3 indicates the angular position of the main shaft of the loom in which the lay has begun its movementfor beating up an inserted weft thread. Line C indicates the movement of the thread presenting element 11, and line D indicates the movement of a shuttle lifter, not shown, the latter line indicating the movement of the shuttle 14 into the picking position in which it is ready to take over a weft thread. The shuttle is pickedat the angle oz".

The thread changing element 44 is rotated by means of the shaft 45 for transporting the weft thread to be picked and gripped by one of the thread presenting elements into i the picking path. Only the weft presenting element which carries the thread which is intended to be picked,

The left end of the lever 18 engages a' which is the element 11 in the position of the thread changing element shown in Fig. 1, can be seized by the lever 18, all other weft presenting elements in the weft thread changing element 44 being in rest position, in which they are preferably locked.

The shuttle 14 is in condition ready to be picked after its clamp 16 has gripped the tread 13. The control element 23 is in operating position and has opened the clamp 12 by means of the opener 27. Therefore, the thread 13 is not held by the clamp 12 and can be pulled through the open clamp 12 between the clamp jaws 47 and 48 of the clamp 12, when the shuttle is picked at the angle a" of the loom shaft which is indicated by line IV in Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 shows that the shuttle 14 passes the operating station II immediately after the shuttle is picked. The control element 24 is in pulled-back position and the point of the opener 28 is in rest position X in Fig. 2. The shuttle 14 is therefore free to be picked into the shed because the opener 28 is removed from the picking path 49.

The next following operating phase is at the moment V ind is illustrated in.Fig. 5. According to line C in Fig. 3, the thread presenting element 1] begins to move from the operating station I to the operating station II. At the moment V, the control element 23 is pulled back. Because the elements 23 and 24 are reciprocated in opposite directions due to the connection by the two-arm lever 31, the opener 28 of the element 24 has approached the picking path 49.

Before the element 11 has reached the operating station II (point i of line C), the two-arm lever 31 has already been turned counterclockwise, so that the element 24 has been removed from the picking path 49 (Fig. 6). It is not necessary that the element 24 is returned completely to the rest position X. As shown in Fig. 7, the thread presenting element is at the operating station II, at the moment VII. The two-arm lever 31 has moved clockwise, the opener 28 of the element 24 has entered and opened the clamp 12, and the weft thread 13 has moved between the open clamp jaws 47 and 48.

After the element 24 has been withdrawn from the clamp 12, the latter has been closed, as shown in Fig. 8, and has gripped the cut-off end of the thread 13. The element 11 moves between the points It and m on line C from the operating station II back to the operating station I for transferring the thread 13 to another shuttle. The element 24 is pulled back at the moment VIII (Fig. 3) while the element 23 is moved towards the operating position XII (Fig. 2).

While the element 11 moves to the left after the clamp 12 has passed the operating station II, the lever 31 is swung in clockwise direction, so that the element 23 is pulled back "at the moment IX for affording passage of the element 11, until it has reached the operating station I. When the shuttle lifter has moved the shuttle 14 from the point n to the point 0 on line D of Fig. 3, the lever 31 is turned counterclockwise between the moments IX and IV until the element 23 is again in the operating position 361, whereupon the parts are again in the positions shown in Fig. 4. The shuttle lifter is lowered according to line D in Fig. 3 from point p to point g, in order to receive another shuttle which has been returned below the shed to the shuttle casing.

Line X in Fig. 2 indicates the rest position and line XII the operating position of the elements 23 and 24. Position XI which is in the middle between the positions X and. XII is at the left of the picking path 49 and spaced therefrom by about one-half of the width of the shuttle 14. These positions are all indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, in order to illustrate the different positions of the elements 23 and 24 during the individual operating phases. The extreme. positions are reached during the operating phases IV and VII in which the clamp 12 is opened. In the phases V, VI, VIIIand IX, either the first or the second F control element makes way for the shuttle 14 or for the element 11, the position of the other control element being immaterial.

The operating position XII of the control elements is defined by the position in which the clamp 12 is fully opened. For the rest position X, a spacing from the picking path 49 would be sufiicient which permits the shuttle 14 to pass the end of the openers 27 and 23 at a suitable clearance. This position has the advantage of smallest space requirement for the control elements.

Fig. 2, however, shows that the rest position X is at a greater distance than defined in the paragraph next above. This has the following advantage when the clamp 12 is opened: opening is not effected until the weft thread 13 has been gripped by the shuttle clamp 16, the clamping point of the clamp 16 being in immediate proximity ahead of or in the rear of the clamping point of the clamp 12.

Since the openers 27, 28 enter like wedges into the cut-out provided in the clamp 12 and the openers move transversely to the clamp, a slight lateral movement of the clamp jaws within the limit of elastic bending may be effected before the clamp 12 is opened. The still gripped weft thread 13 would thereby be moved laterally and there is a possibility that the thread will not be correctly inserted into the clamp 16. Due to the space provided between the position X (Fig. 4) and the thread presenting element 11 the opener 27 can be accelerated to its final speed and enter with this speed into the clamp 12 so that due to the force of inertia a lateral movement of the clamp 12 prior to its opening is not possible and the clamping effect of the clamp 16 on the thread 13 will not be impaired.

The control elements 51 and 52 moving in guides 53 and 53', respectively, shown in Fig. 10, are provided with conical operating ends 54 and 54', respectively, as 1 are the control elements 23 and 24 of the modification shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for opening and closing a thread clamp. The control elements 51 and 52 are moved by means of a drum 55, which is mounted on a shaft 56 and provided with cam grooves 57 and 58. A follower roller 59 mounted at the end of a pin 61 which is connected with the element 51 rolls in the groove 57. A roller 62 mounted at the end of a pin 63 connected with the con trol element 52 runs in the groove 58. The shaft 56 is driven by the main shaft of the loom at a speed corresponding to the number of picks, in the conventional manner.

Fig. 11 shows a modification in which the control elements 51' and 52 operate in guides 53". The element 51' is actuated by a lever 64 swinging on a shaft 65. The free end of the lever 64 is provided with a fork 66 which straddles a pin 67 mounted on the element 51'. The lever 64 is provided with a roller 68 following a cam 69 on a shaft 77. A spring 71 connected with the lever 64 and a stationary part of the loom ensures engagement of the roller 68 with the cam 69. The control element 52 is actuated by a lever '72 which also swings on the shaft 65 and whose free end is provided with a fork 73 straddling a pin 74 mounted on the element 52. A roller 75 mounted on the lever 72 is engaged by a cam 76 mounted on the shaft 77. Engagement is ensured by means of a spring 78 having one end connected with the lever 72 and the other end with a stationary part of the loom.

Whereas the movement of the control elements 23, 24 (Fig. l) is always in opposite direction, the drive by means of the cam drum 55 (Fig. or the cam drive 68, 69 and 75, 76 (Fig. 11) has the advantage that the movement of the control elements 51, 52 and 51, 52 is not synchronously reciprocating and that movement of one or the other control element out of the way of the thread presenting element or of the element taking over a thread at the respective operating station can occur only in accordance with the passing of the thread presenting element and the element taking over a thread.

Therefore, the curves E and F in Fig. 3 need not be symmetric with respect to the center line XI (Fig. 3), as are the curves A and B, but may have any desired configuration.

At the moment IV, the point of the control member 51 or 51 must be so far withdrawn that the element taking over a thread, for example the shuttle 14, can pass at a sufficient clearance, i. e. the point of the control member is somewhat beyond the middle line XI. At the moment VI, however, the control element 51 or 51' is farther removed from the picking path and beyond the center line XI because, subsequently, the clamp of the element taking over the thread must be opened. The control element 51 or 51 can be accelerated to a sufficient speed before the thread clamp begins to open, so that the opening is effected at constant speed, affording a quick opening and release of the weft thread at the operating station I. Since in the positions VIII and IX the thread presenting element 11, which is less wide than the shuttle 14, must pass the operating station II, the control element 51 or 51' must be withdrawn only so far that the point 54 is below the center line XI in Fig. 3 and need not be returned to the original position before the moment IV.

Only one of the thread presenting elements 11 and 42 passes in front of the control element, so that this element is Withdrawn only at the moment IX beyond the center line. Thereupon the element is brought into the operating position XII, so that opening is effected also at this operating phase at constant speed.

Elements which take over a thread may be in the form of weft inserting needles which enter into the shed either from one side or from both sides. Except in looms for weaving, the invention may also be used for transporting thread in knotting, packing or other machines.

In the modification shown in Fig. 12, a thread clamp 84) is moved by means of a shaft 81, which oscillates as indicated by arrows 33, and to which the clamp is connected by means of an arm 32 between two operating stations, a link 84 serving as guide for the clamp. Clamp actuating rams 85 and 86 are individually guided in guides 87. The rams open and close the clamp at both operating stations. The rams and 86 are provided with pins 88 and 88', respectively, which are straddled by forks S9 and 89' at the ends of arms 91 and 92, respectively.

The lever or arm 91 is freely rotatable on a shaft 93 and is provided with a roller dd which is pressed by means of a spring 95 against a cam 96. The lever or arm 92 is rigidly connected with the shaft 93, a roller lever 97 being made fast on the shaft 93 and carrying a roller $8 which is engaged by the cam 96 and pressed against the cam by the action of a spring 99.

The cam 96 is mounted on a shaft 161 which rotates in the direction of the arrow 102. The cam first actua-tes the ram 85 and, after rotation of the cam through an angle 0:, actuates the ram 86 in the same manner as it previously actuated the ram 85, with a difference in phase of an angle of a". The thread clamp iii) may cooperate with any other element which takes the thread, ribbon, cord, or the like 193, which is unwound from a package 104 rotating on an axle 165, over from the clamp 80.

Fig. l2 shows the thread clamp St) at the second operating station in which it is opened by the ram 85 and has the end of the cord 103 transferred to a gripper 107, for example of a knotting mechanism. Thereupon the ram 35 is withdrawn and the clamp 36 closes. Counterclockwise turning of the shaft 81 causes return of the clamp 30 to the left into the first operating position. Withdrawal of the ram 85 affords free passage of the gripper 107. The ram 36 opens the clamp 80 at the first operating station, so that the cord 103 can pass through the clamp to be gripped again by the clamp 86 upon withdrawal of the ram 86, whereupon the clamp 86 once more can move to the second operating station in which it is shown in Fig. 12.

Whilespecific embodiments of the invention have been shownand described, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What isclaimed is:

1. A mechanism for transporting a thread comprising a first thread clamp movable inthe path of the thread, a second thread clamp adapted to receive a thread from the first thread clamp and being also movable in the path of the thread, said first clamp having two operating positions spaced along the path of the thread, a clamp actuator at each operating position of said first thread clamp, said clamp actuators being movable substantially transversely to the path of, the thread and interdependently operated means connected with said actuators for moving same in a direction towards and from the thread and adapted to move one of said actuators at least cmporarily in a manner different from the manner in which the other actuator is moved.

2. A mechanism for transporting a thread comprising a first thread clamp movable in the path of the thread, a second thread clamp adapted to receive a thread from the first thread clamp and being also movable in the path of the thread, said first clamp having two operating positions spaced along the path of the thread, a clamp actuator at each operating position of said first thread clamp, said clamp actuators being movable substantially transversely to the path of the thread, and interdependently operated means connected with said actuators for moving same in a direction towards and from the thread, one of said actuators being moved to an extent afiording actuation of one of said thread clamps and the other actuator being simultaneously moved to an extent affordingpassage of the other thread clamp past the other actuator.

3. A mechanism for transporting a thread comprising a first thread clamp movable in the path of the thread, a second thread clamp adapted to receive a thread from the first thread clamp and being also movable in the path of the thread, said first clamp having two operating positions spaced along the path of the thread, a clamp actuator at each operating position of said first thread clamp, said clamp actuators being movable substantially transversely to the path of the thread, and operating means connected with said actuators for moving same in a direction towards and from the thread, said operating means including a two-arm lever whose fulcrum is located between said actuators and whose ends are individually articulated to said actuators.

4. A mechanism as defined in claim 3, comprising individual guide means for said actuators, the ends of said lever having teeth and said actuators having tooth gaps for receiving said teeth for articulation of said actuators to the ends of said lever.

5. A mechanism for transporting a thread comprising a first thread clamp movable in the path of the thread, a second thread clamp adapted to receive a thread from the first thread clamp and being also movable in the path of the thread, said first clamp having two operating positions spaced along the path of the thread, a clamp actuator at each operating position of said first thread clamp, said clamp actuators being movable substantially transversely to the path of the thread, and operating means connected with said actuators for moving same in a direction towards and from the thread and adapted to move one of said actuators at least temporarily in a manner different from the manner in which the other actuator is moved, said operating means including a cam drive for each of said actuators.

6. A mechanism as defined in claim 5, in which said cam drive includes a rotating cylinder disposed between said actuators and being provided with cam grooves, and in which said actuators are guided to individually move on a straight path and are individually provided with pins carrying cam follower rollers individually movable in said grooves.

7. A mechanism for transporting a weft. thread in a loom for weaving comprising a plurality of shuttles individually provided with a thread gripper for gripping a weft thread at a thread transfer station and pulling the gripped thread through a shed formed of warp threads, a transfer means reciprocatingly movable in the direction of the moving weft thread and having a thread clamp adapted to transfer a weft thread to the grippers of said shuttles at the thread transfer station, a first actuator for said clamp, said first actuator being movable at the transfer station substantially transversely to the path of and towards and from the weft thread, a second actuator for said clamp placed proximal to the point where the weft thread enters the shed formed by the warp threads, said second actuator being movable substantially transversely to the path of and towards and from the weft thread, operating means connected with said actuators for moving same in a direction towards and from the weft thread and adapted to move one of said actuators at least temporarily in a manner different from the manner in which the other actuator is moved, and a common drive means for said operating means.

8. A mechanism as defined in claim 7, in which said actuators are in the form of thorns individually having a cone-shaped end adapted to be inserted between the prongs of said thread clamp, an axial slot in said coneshaped end which slot is open at the point of the cone and whose width affords passage of the weft thread through the slot and is smaller than the height of said shuttles.

9. A mechanism for transporting a thread comprising a first thread clamp movable in the path of the thread, a second thread clamp adapted to receive a thread from the first thread clamp and being also movable in the path of the thread, said first clamp having two operating positions spaced along the path of the thread, a clamp actuator at each operating position of said first thread clamp, said clamp actuators being movable substantially transversely to the path of the thread, and operating means connected with said actuators for moving the same in timed relation and in oppositely phased reciprocation toward and from the thread.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,578,205 Pfarrwaller Dec. 11, 1951 

